ORS-5 Surveillance Satellite, United States of America

The ORS-5 (Operationally Responsive Space-5) is a new space surveillance satellite that has been developed by the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office for the US Air Force (USAF).

Also referred to as SensorSat, the satellite was launched aboard the Orbital ATK Minotaur IV space launch vehicle (SLV) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in August 2017.

The ORS-5 spacecraft is placed in low inclination orbit approximately 599km above the earth and is used to track other satellites and space debris in geosynchronous orbit (GSO).

It is intended to provide more cost-efficient geosynchronous space situational awareness (SSA) compared to bigger and more complex satellites.

ORS-5 development details

The ORS-5 programme is envisioned to demonstrate the cost-efficient launch capability of small satellite and autonomous operations using the Multi-Mission Space Operations Centre's (MMSOC) current ground system infrastructure.

The Space and Missile Systems Center's (SMC) ORS Office at the Kirtland Air Force Base is responsible for managing the programme.

Authorisation for the ORS-5 initiative was granted by the US Department of Defence (DoD) in February 2014, while the production contract for the satellite was awarded in the second half of 2014.

The integrated system demonstration was concluded in August 2015.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory is the prime contractor for the ORS-5 satellite programme, which required an investment of roughly $87.5m.